Introduction
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was an important, but misunderstood philosopher. He lived October 15,1844 -August 25,1900. He was a modern German philosopher and philologist. He was also an atheist. He wrote judgments about morality, religion, and science.
Biography
Nietzsche's father was a Lutheran preacher. His mother and father were Carl Ludwig and Franciska Oehler Ludwig. Nietzsche’s father died in 1849 from a brain ailment. The women of the family took care of him. Nietzsche's uncles, father, and grandpa were Lutheran priests, and he grew up to be very critical of Christianity. He proposed that life eternally repeats itself, and that each person lives the same life over and over. Nietzsche was an atheist and wrote about a prophet saying "God is Dead." Nietzsche became a professor at age 24. Which was almost unheard of. Composer Richard Wagner became a good friend, but later, they fought. Nietzsche dropped out of the society for 10 years, and lived in the Alps. For the last 10 years of Nietzsche's life, he was clinically insane and his sister cared for him. She edited his work. He died on August 25, 1900.
Philosophy
Because Nietzsche's works were religious and atheistic based, he dealt with existentialism. These works were part of a philosophical and literary movement in the end of the 19th century. His works are the most disputed amongst philosophers because no one agrees on their true meaning. Many scholars of Nietzsche have devoted the most attention to the reoccurring theme in his works that 'God is Dead.' Nietzsche believed that the development of science, and the focus of developing a secular world were causing loss of Christianity.
Nietzsche never formally studied philosophy. He was influenced by Plato and Spinoza and influenced Sartre. Nietzsche wrote about superman. He was referring to a real life. He was influenced by Richard Wagner, and Wagner was anti-Semitic (prejudice against Jews). Many people wrongly accused Nietzsche of being associated with Hitler. Also, Nietzsche's sister was married to an anti-Semitic. She injured his reputation, and was partly responsible for relating him with the Nazis.
In the book Sophie's World, by Jostein Gaarder, on page 455, Alberto and Sophie discuss Nietzsche saying " He proposed life itself as a counterweight to the anemic interest in history and what he called the Christian "Slave morality." He sought to effect a "Revaluation of all values," so that the life force of the strongest should not be hampered by the weak. According to Nietzsche, both Christianity and traditional philosophy had turned away from the real world and pointed toward "heaven" or "the world of ideas." But, what had hither to been considered the "real" world was in fact a pseudo world. "Be true to the world," he said. " Do not listen to those who offer you supernatural expectations."
Major Works Beyond Good and Evil, The Will to Power, The Birth of Tragedy, The Anti-Christ, Philosophy in the Tragic Aid of the Greeks, The Birth of Tragedy and the Case of Wagner, Thus Spake Zarathustra, and The Genealogy of Morals.
Notable Quotes
In heaven all the interesting people are missing.
You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star.
Man is the cruelest animal.
In truth, there is only one Christian, and he died on the cross.
Interesting Facts
-Both Nietzsche's father and brother died of brain disease.
-He became professor at a young age (24).
-He wrote about Apollo and Dionysus in The Birth of Tragedy.
-Nietzsche was a musicologist and composer.
Bibliography
Magee, Bryan. The Story of Philososphy. New York: DK, INC., 1998.
Introduction
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was an important, but misunderstood philosopher. He lived October 15,1844 -August 25,1900. He was a modern German philosopher and philologist. He was also an atheist. He wrote judgments about morality, religion, and science.
Biography
Nietzsche's father was a Lutheran preacher. His mother and father were Carl Ludwig and Franciska Oehler Ludwig. Nietzsche’s father died in 1849 from a brain ailment. The women of the family took care of him. Nietzsche's uncles, father, and grandpa were Lutheran priests, and he grew up to be very critical of Christianity. He proposed that life eternally repeats itself, and that each person lives the same life over and over. Nietzsche was an atheist and wrote about a prophet saying "God is Dead." Nietzsche became a professor at age 24. Which was almost unheard of. Composer Richard Wagner became a good friend, but later, they fought. Nietzsche dropped out of the society for 10 years, and lived in the Alps. For the last 10 years of Nietzsche's life, he was clinically insane and his sister cared for him. She edited his work. He died on August 25, 1900.
Philosophy
Because Nietzsche's works were religious and atheistic based, he dealt with existentialism. These works were part of a philosophical and literary movement in the end of the 19th century. His works are the most disputed amongst philosophers because no one agrees on their true meaning. Many scholars of Nietzsche have devoted the most attention to the reoccurring theme in his works that 'God is Dead.' Nietzsche believed that the development of science, and the focus of developing a secular world were causing loss of Christianity.
Nietzsche never formally studied philosophy. He was influenced by Plato and Spinoza and influenced Sartre. Nietzsche wrote about superman. He was referring to a real life. He was influenced by Richard Wagner, and Wagner was anti-Semitic (prejudice against Jews). Many people wrongly accused Nietzsche of being associated with Hitler. Also, Nietzsche's sister was married to an anti-Semitic. She injured his reputation, and was partly responsible for relating him with the Nazis.
In the book Sophie's World, by Jostein Gaarder, on page 455, Alberto and Sophie discuss Nietzsche saying " He proposed life itself as a counterweight to the anemic interest in history and what he called the Christian "Slave morality." He sought to effect a "Revaluation of all values," so that the life force of the strongest should not be hampered by the weak. According to Nietzsche, both Christianity and traditional philosophy had turned away from the real world and pointed toward "heaven" or "the world of ideas." But, what had hither to been considered the "real" world was in fact a pseudo world. "Be true to the world," he said. " Do not listen to those who offer you supernatural expectations."
Major Works
Beyond Good and Evil, The Will to Power, The Birth of Tragedy, The Anti-Christ, Philosophy in the Tragic Aid of the Greeks, The Birth of Tragedy and the Case of Wagner, Thus Spake Zarathustra, and The Genealogy of Morals.
Notable Quotes
Links to Useful Websites
Quotes of Nietzsche
Existentialism
Interesting Facts
-Both Nietzsche's father and brother died of brain disease.
-He became professor at a young age (24).
-He wrote about Apollo and Dionysus in The Birth of Tragedy.
-Nietzsche was a musicologist and composer.
Bibliography